Film Wedding Photography at The Night Yard: Fashion & Flash on Analogue Film
June 2, 2026
Film wedding photography has been pretty in fashion since 2024, even though in my eyes digital is still king. At Alicia and Adam’s wedding at The Night Yard in Canterbury, I photographed the day using a blend of analogue film and digital, leaning into flash-styled, fashion-inspired lighting alongside a documentary approach. It was a celebration that naturally suited film wedding photography and I’m stoked to show you the results.
This blog explores how 35mm film wedding photography and digital mediums worked together to tell a complete, modern story of the day. From bridal preparation in Canterbury to a confetti-filled dancefloor later that evening.
TLDR
A black tie wedding at The Night Yard in Canterbury, photographed using a mix of 35mm film wedding photography and digital flash work. The day blended editorial portraits & documentary storytelling which is my signature vibe as an analogue wedding photographer. I always recommend adding in analogue film if you’re a modern fashionable couple like Alicia & Adam.
Contents
- A black tie wedding at The Night Yard
- Film wedding photography meets digital flash
- Bridal preparation in Canterbury
- Ceremony, Pepper the dog, and confetti moments
- Apple orchards and documentary portraits
- Speeches, music and the energy of the evening
- A live studio setup and guest experience
- Why analogue film elevated this wedding story
- About my approach to film wedding photography
A black tie wedding at The Night Yard
Alicia and Adam’s wedding at The Night Yard in Canterbury was so much fun with the plans I heard in the consultation. Black tie always changes the energy of a wedding in that everything looks slightly more classy. Hearing that they were bringing their beloved dog, their favourite foods for their guests to feast on, and one of the best pop-punk bands I’ve ever heard was super exciting.
Between their initial booking and the wedding itself, their appreciation for analogue film photography had grown. What started as a small addition became a meaningful part of the storytelling, with film woven in throughout the day alongside digital work. For me, this is where film wedding photography becomes most interesting, not as a standalone aesthetic, but as a layer within a wider documentary approach. I think more weddings should consider having monochrome film wedding photography of their day.
The Night Yard itself offered a practical, flowing layout for the day. Ceremony, reception, dining and dancing all sitting within one space, which meant the story could unfold without disconnection.
Film wedding photography meets digital flash
This wedding was a balance of two approaches. Digital allowed me to work quickly, especially with flash-driven scenes and movement. Film partnered with this, and I just had to switch the flash trigger between cameras if I wanted off camera, otherwise I just used on-camera for both.
The analogue film wedding photography work was shot entirely on monochrome 35mm, which suited the black tie styling perfectly. It stripped everything back to shape, gesture, light and emotion. No distractions of colour, just tones and textures.
Alongside that, I used off-camera flash to create a more editorial feel during certain parts of the day. This is where my background in fashion photography naturally comes into play. I like structure in light when it looks cool, especially when it still feels honest to the moment.
The combination meant the final gallery had contrast in feeling but consistency in intention. Nothing felt overproduced, yet it all looked modern and romantic.
Bridal preparation in Canterbury
The day began in a luxury hotel in Canterbury, where Alicia was getting ready. These quieter morning moments are often where film wedding photography feels most natural. There is less pressure, more rhythm, and a sense of anticipation building gradually.
I moved between digital and film here, focusing on small interactions, hands, movement, and the in-between moments that often define how a day feels in hindsight. Alicia’s Grandmother suffered a stroke earlier in the year, but was comfortable being amongst the hustle and bustle of her granddaughter’s wedding day.
The light in the room was bright as the sun was coming down, which worked aesthetically with both formats. It was simply about observing properly and cropping in an editorial manner.
Ceremony, Pepper the dog, and confetti moments
The ceremony took place inside The Night Yard, with guests gathered closely around Alicia and Adam. One of the standout elements of the day was Pepper, their giant Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who freely moved through the ceremony like she was part of the place.
There is always something wild about including a pet in a wedding ceremony, even for weekday weddings. It removes stiffness instantly and brings a different kind of joy into the room, especially when she was jumping up and both of them during the vows!
After the ceremony, confetti outside created a burst of energy before we moved into the apple orchards for couple portraits. Pepper came along for this part too, jumping into frames (and into me!) in the most unpredictable way.
These moments worked especially well on film. The grain, the movement, the unpredictability of 35mm, it all suited the chaos in a very intentional way.
Apple orchards and documentary portraits
The apple orchards offered a time for Alicia & Adam to just stop and cuddle. I love it when Kent wedding venues have space to explore. We didn’t over-direct anything. Instead, I let Alicia and Adam move naturally, occasionally suggesting we stop for a moment or talk about things that had happened so far.
This is where me and my personality and my approach to film wedding photography becomes most visible. It is not about replacing digital, but about choosing the right tool for the right emotional moment. Film wedding photography is slower, more deliberate, and it asks for patience. Otherwise you rinse a roll of film in seconds. This patience often results in images that feel more considered because you’re not overshooting.
Speeches, music and the energy of the evening
Inside, the room was turned around quickly to accommodate a hundred plus guests for dinner. The speeches carried a lot of emotion, the kind that reminds you how deeply people are connected to a couple beyond just the wedding day itself. They talked a lot about their love of Center Parcs, which meant me and my family just HAD to book a holiday there the following week.
Later, the band “This Ain’t A Scene” opened the dancefloor and the energy shifted completely. Their choreographed first dance, complete with confetti cannons, was one of those moments where everything feels slightly larger than life in the best way. You should check out this guest blog post for other luxury wedding bands, but this band were epic.
A live studio setup and guest experience
Rather than traditional group photos, I set up a small studio space using off-camera flash, synchronised across both film and digital cameras. Guests could step in, have their portrait taken, and move on naturally.
What I enjoy about this approach is how it removes the waiting. It becomes part of the evening rather than a disruption to it. Later, I sent the images directly to my phone and built a live gallery so guests could view and download their portraits in real time. Obviously I couldn’t do this with the film wedding photography, that takes a while coming back from the lab.
It is a small detail, but it changes how people engage with photography during the wedding itself. It becomes immediate rather than archival.
Why analogue film elevated this wedding story
The 35mm analogue film work from this wedding was entirely monochrome, which suited both the black tie styling and the emotional tone of the day.
There is a simplicity to black and white film that removes distraction. It doesn’t compete with the moment, it carries something stylish for the couple to take away. That is particularly powerful in wedding environments where so much is happening at once or can be edited afterwards.
For Alicia and Adam, film wasn’t just an aesthetic choice. It became part of how they chose to have their story told. A slower, more fashionable layer sitting alongside the immediacy of digital photography.
About my approach to film wedding photography
My work sits between documentary storytelling and fashion-led cropping. The aim is always the same, to create images that feel honest to the moment while still being crafted with aesthetics.
I use film alongside digital depending on what the situation calls for. Film brings a texture and restraint that is difficult to replicate. Digital allows flexibility, speed, and reliablity, especially when working with flash and movement.
At the centre of it all is a simple priority. Capturing real moments in a way that feels considered, elegant, and lasting. My clients are often investing more than average because they value a service that’s more than average too, with imagery that feels both emotionally authentic and looks awesome too. If this is up your street, get in contact and learn more about booking your wedding photography.
